Cole Thomson’s mum is taking her medical cannabis fight to Spain after failing to get access to the life-saving treatment in the UK.

As she prepared herself for a difficult start to 2019, Lisa Quarrell insists her hand has been forced as clinicians have not prescribed cannabis oil which could cure Cole’s paralysing drug resistant epilepsy, while appeals to politicians have so far proved unsuccessful.

The Newslandsmuir mum-of-two believes the oil, which was legalised in the UK in November, will give Cole – who suffers up to 10 stroke-like seizures a day – a fighting chance at life.

Lisa, 37, revealed Cole, 6, is now enduring the added trauma of nose bleeds and absences – prolongued staring into space – during his seizures and almost called for an ambulance during one particularly traumatic episode.

Lisa believes that she has been left with no other option than to take Cole to a specialist medical centre in Barcelona next month for clinical trials.

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“I have sent all the paperwork off to a clinic in Spain which specialises in medical cannabis,” said Lisa. “Once they get confirmation of Cole’s diagnosis they will give us a consultation over Skype before a face-to-face meeting.

“I would not risk trying to bring treatment home so I would need to stay out there for as long as it takes to see if the treatment works. Taking Cole to another country is a terrifying thought. I don’t speak the language and I would need to do it alone because his dad is working off-shore and I couldn’t take his brother Dylan out of school.

“But the government are leaving me with no other option – no clinicians here are prepared to put their signature to a prescription for medical cannabis.

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“I’ve tried every avenue; I’ve went to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, health ministers Jeane Freeman and Joe Fitzpatrick, my MP and MSPs – and nothing. I keep getting told it takes time but it really doesn’t need to. I just need the same prescription other kids are getting privately.

“I can’t believe I’m planning to take my boy away to a strange place to get the help, help he should be getting here in Scotland. I’m absolutely devastated but fed up waiting for someone to step up to their responsibilities and help my family and save my wee boy.”

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A Scottish Government spokesman said: “Watching any loved one suffer is heart-breaking, even more so when it is a child and we extend our fullest sympathies to both Cole and his mum Lisa.

“The approval of cannabis-based medicinal products for medicinal use is reserved to the UK Government. Scottish ministers are unable to make or influence prescribing decisions and it would not be appropriate for them to do so.

“It is a clinical decision to determine what medication to prescribe for a patient, taking into account the patients clinical condition and their safety.”